Hibiscus

Hibiscus
Botanical Family: Malvacaea

• Hibiscus mutabilis
  

Hibiscus mutabilis is quite different with other hibiscus. This Hibiscus popularly known as the Changeable Rose, the Rose of Sharon or the Cotton Rose. This is a vigorous, bushy shrub growing to 2 meters or more with grayish-green leaves and large flowers, either single or double. This is quit interesting, in the morning when flowers open the color are pure white and change during the course of the day to deep pink.

• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

The most commonly grown is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. In Indonesia we call this flowers as the shoe flower or kembang sepatu. A reference to the fact that a juice extracted from the petals was supposedly used by the Dutch colonials to darken their shoes.

Generally Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a medium sized shrub, but some varieties can grow as tall as 5 meters. The leaves maybe ovate or lobed, smooth or hairy, green or variegated. Flower colors range from pure white through yellow and pink to scarlet. Though the flowers last only one day, many varieties bloom profusely so that there are nearly always several open at any time. Leaves and flowers are both edible and are sometimes used in traditional medicine.

• Hibiscus schizopetalus
  

This is another popular species, Hibiscus schizopetalus a native of East Africa which has less dense foliage arching branches, pendulous flowers with fringed petals that curl back against the stem and an exceptional long staminal column. This is known in some places as the Coral Hibiscus. Like Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, it has been used as the parent plant for numerous hybrids.

Most Hibiscus require full sun to flower well and benefit from occasional pruning, especially when used as a hedge.

Source:

Tropical Garden Plants